ink
Americannoun
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a fluid or viscous substance used for writing or printing.
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a dark, protective fluid ejected by the cuttlefish and other cephalopods.
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Slang. a tattoo or tattoos.
Oh, nice, you got new ink!
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Informal. publicity, especially in print media.
Their construction plans got some ink in the local paper.
verb (used with object)
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to mark, stain, cover, or smear with ink.
to ink one's clothes.
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Informal. to sign one's name to (an official document).
We expect to ink the contract tomorrow.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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a fluid or paste used for printing, writing, and drawing
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a dark brown fluid ejected into the water for self-concealment by an octopus or related mollusc from a gland ( ink sac ) near the anus
verb
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to mark with ink
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to coat (a printing surface) with ink
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have inkedperfect
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has inkedperfect 3rd person singular
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is inkingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been inkingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am inkingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been inkingperfect progressive
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inkingparticiple
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are inkingprogressive
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inkssingular 3rd person
Past
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had inkedperfect
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was inkingprogressive singular
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had been inkingperfect progressive
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were inkingprogressive plural
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inkedsimple
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inkedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of ink
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English inke, inc, enke, from Old French enca, enque, ancre, from Late Latin encautum, variant of encaustum “burnt in, painted in,” from Greek énkauston “purple ink (used for imperial signatures),” noun use of neuter of énkaustos “burnt in”; see encaustic
Explanation
Ink is a colored liquid that you use to write with on paper. When you sign on the dotted line, you usually do so with ink. You'll usually find ink inside a pen, automatically flowing through its tip, although years ago people had to dip a quill into a pot of ink to write with ink. Other ways ink is used include printing images, stamping information, and drawing pictures. Another ink is the fluid released by certain mollusks, like squids, to hide them from predators. Ink, from the Old French encre, "dark writing fluid," has the Greek root enkaiein, "to burn in."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The future of Curry Brand is with Li-Ning,” Curry wrote in a post announcing the deal on his Thirty Ink site.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
In a video posted on his business website Thirty Ink, Curry said the partnership will help Li-Ning expand in the US.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
DaCosta particularly enjoyed directing the narrative arc of the film's principal female character, Jimmy Ink, played by Erin Kellyman.
From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026
And they were often charmed by the minimalist design, the E Ink screen, and the limited options.
From Slate • Apr. 17, 2025
Daddy said if we ever got a dog, he’d want to name it Ink, which makes sense now that I know he was a writer.
From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
